My Third MPOWERed blog:
COMPASSIONATE AND DATA-DRIVEN: REFLECTIONS WITH ASHISH AGARWAL
MPOWER boasts being “compassionate and data-driven” as one of our core values, but what does that really mean? We sat down and explored the topic with MPOWER Operations Analyst Ashish Agarwal.
Ashish began working at MPOWER in the summer of 2016 through the Hisaoka Fellowship offered by the Dingman Center at the University of Maryland. He is currently pursuing two graduate degrees there, an M.B.A. and an M.S. in Information Systems. Ashish has 7 years’ experience working in business analytics and data-driven strategy in India. He is also an international student with first-hand experience of the challenges non-domestic students face when seeking financial support to study in the United States. After graduation, Ashish will be working full-time as MPOWER Financing’s first Manager of Analytics.
My Fourth MPOWERed Blog:
UNDERSTANDING WORKPLACE CULTURE
We’re all familiar with culture as it varies between regions or countries, but what about culture as it varies between offices or companies?
Every company has its own unique personality, just like your friends or family do. We refer to each business’ unique personality as its “organizational culture.” Organizational culture is determined by the specific values, beliefs, and norms regularly expressed by employees at a place of work.
Working at an organization with values inconsistent with your own can be distressing, disheartening, and even depressing. No matter how great the position or perks, if the work environment is a cultural mismatch, you’ll likely feel unfulfilled.
You often hear interviewers say a candidate “fits” or “doesn’t fit” as an explanation for why a particular applicant was or was not advance to the next round of hiring. Most companies actively search for people who demonstrate company values, habits, and morals.
You should be sure an office’s culture works for you as well. While it’s the interviewer’s responsibility to assess your qualifications, it’s up to you to determine whether a particular employer is aligned with your needs and values.
What factors should be used to evaluate company culture? Career Leader suggests that four primary characteristics make up organizational culture:
